UEFA president Ceferin dismisses concept of risk to European soccer from big-spending Saudis

GENEVA — European soccer shouldn’t be afraid of a participant exodus to Saudi Arabian golf equipment, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin mentioned Sunday, suggesting the nation was making a mistake investing in stars on the finish of their careers.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have taken a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars} to affix Saudi Arabian golf equipment this yr and comparable presents have been made to Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić. They have mixed to win each Ballon d’Or awarded since 2008 and all are aged a minimum of 35.

More gamers are anticipated to observe after 4 prime Saudi Arabian golf equipment have been successfully nationalized this month when taken into majority possession by the Public Investment Fund sovereign wealth operation chaired by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Čeferin was requested by Netherlands broadcaster NOS if he was fearful of a participant exodus, and answered emphatically: “No, no, no.”

“I think that it’s mainly a mistake for Saudi Arabian football,” the UEFA president mentioned in an interview broadcast Sunday.

“Why is that a problem for them? Because they should invest in academies, they should bring coaches, and they should develop their own players.”

PHOTOS: UEFA president Čeferin dismisses concept of risk to European soccer from big-spending Saudis

“The system of buying the players that almost ended their career is not the system that develops football,” he mentioned. “It was a similar mistake in China when they all brought players who are at the end of their career.”

Didier Drogba was the star recruit to the Chinese league in 2012 as golf equipment there purchased Europe-based forwards like Nicolas Anelka and Frédéric Kanouté. The Chinese league and males’s nationwide group have made little progress internationally within the years since.

“Tell me one player who is top, top age and who starts his career and went to play in Saudi Arabia?” Čeferin requested through the interview on the sidelines of the Nations League Finals mini-tournament hosted within the Netherlands.

“But it’s not about money only. Players want to win top competitions. And top competition is in Europe,” the UEFA chief mentioned.

The first wave of superstars focused by Saudi Arabia all gained a number of Champions League titles in Europe. Messi gained his first World Cup title with Argentina final yr and is becoming a member of Inter Miami in Major League Soccer whereas Modrić appears set to remain at Real Madrid for another season.

“We didn’t lose them,” Čeferin mentioned when requested if European soccer had misplaced prime sights. “They still play football. At the end of their career some players go somewhere to earn some money.”

Saudi Arabia already has a spot within the Champions League with Newcastle qualifying by a fourth-place end within the Premier League within the membership’s first full season beneath 80% possession by PIF.

Newcastle joins different big-spending, state-owned golf equipment within the 32-team lineup subsequent season – Qatar’s Paris Saint-Germain and Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City, the brand new title holder. PSG chairman Nasser al-Khelaïfi is a detailed ally of Čeferin as a member of UEFA’s government committee and in addition is chairman of Qatari broadcaster beIN Media Group, which is one among UEFA’s greatest clients for TV rights.

Čeferin reiterated Sunday that UEFA is taking a look at guidelines to impose an general cap on the finances for salaries and transfers for golf equipment that qualify to play in European competitions.

“Because we don’t want that two or three clubs who have unlimited resources come to a budget of 5 billion or 10 billion,” he mentioned. “Then our competitors will not be attention-grabbing any extra.

“Practically every club, everyone who I spoke with, agrees with that,” Čeferin mentioned, cautioning: “We are far from any decision, we are just thinking about it.”

It is unclear how UEFA can introduce such guidelines inside European Union legal guidelines and totally different tax regimes throughout its 55 member federations. Salary caps have usually been thought-about within the 15 years since European soccer officers formed “Financial Fair Play” guidelines to watch golf equipment’ earnings and spending.

UEFA beneath Čeferin’s management since 2016 additionally has aired concepts of taking the marquee recreation in membership soccer, the Champions League closing, to a number metropolis exterior Europe.

That appeared no nearer Sunday, he instructed NOS, and the following two finals might be in London and Munich.